Betting On Love

by Danielle Dickson

  “Pfft, Billie’s a bigger party animal than me. I’m going to need a week away from her just to detox.”

  He laughs and we settle into easy conversation now that business is out of the way.

  I wish Sammy lived here, she’s amazing to be around. I watch as she holds up two different dresses against herself.

  “Which one?”

  “Erm, that one,” I say, pointing to the plum-coloured, wool dress.

  “That’s the one I was going to pick,” she replies, beaming at me. “How are things with you and Mac?”

  I blush and smile. “I think we’re still in the honeymoon phase, but I hope to God that it never ends. The other night when I came home from seeing his sister, he had a Nerf gun waiting for me with a note that said ‘Come find me’ on it.” I shake my head and laugh with Sammy. “He’s like a big kid, but it keeps things exciting.”

  She gets a wistful look on her face. “I guess our men fell into an easy friendship because they’re so like each other. Sometimes Con can be so serious though, I guess he’s just been under a lot of pressure lately. And although he’s finally decided to move over to Little Hollow, I know he’s been torn with leaving the company and his mom.”

  I nod in understanding. “Adulting is hard.”

  She laughs and checks out. “Shall we head back now? Con’s going to kill me for getting all of this.” She lifts her arms with the five bags in her hands and I wave her off.

  “So what? You deserve to treat yourself every now and again.”

  She thanks the lady and walks out of the shop. “How come you didn’t get anything?”

  “I’ve arranged a day shopping next week with Mac’s sister, Casey, so I don’t want to overdo it today.”

  She smiles at me as she throws her bags in the boot of my car, and we drive on back to my apartment, parking outside and taking the lift.

  KISS is playing loudly from inside of the apartment and I raise a brow at Sammy, she shrugs and I open the door, stepping in and laughing at the guys both pretending to play air guitar. They’ve not heard us come in yet so we stand there with our arms crossed in front of us and wait. Con turns around first and stops what he’s doing, but Mac continues to climb onto the sofa and bends backward, strumming the imaginary guitar. He falls backward and finally sees me, rolling onto the floor when he loses his balance.

  Sammy bursts out laughing and I can’t hold mine in any longer. Mac stumbles up and shoots me a lazy grin; they’ve obviously been drinking and have consumed quite a lot while we’ve been gone.

  Con walks over and helps Sammy to the guest room with all the bags, groaning about how they’re going to have to buy a small suitcase and pay for extra luggage. I walk over to Mac and he wraps me in his arms and kisses me on the forehead.

  “Have you had fun, B?”

  “I have; have you?”

  He smirks and nods, pressing his lips against mine. “Love you, B.”

  I taste the whiskey he’s been drinking and smile to myself, wondering how I got this lucky.

  “No way! Your mum hates me.”

  “She doesn’t hate you, all she wants is for Mac to talk to her,” Casey replies.

  “She so does, this isn’t a good idea, she wouldn’t want me to be involved.”

  “Please, Billie, you have to,” she begs as she leans across the coffee shop table and grasps my hand. “She’s driving me crazy and I have no other friends. I don’t mind having my cousins as bridesmaids, but not as a maid of honor. Pretty please.” She pouts her lips and gives me the puppy dog eyes.

  “Stop looking at me like that,” I say, taking a sip of my latte.

  “You’d make me a very happy woman if you would please be by my side enduring the pain my mom will— Ah.” She sucks in air through her teeth and grabs her belly.

  I laugh. “Yeah, right, nice try. Still not budging.”

  “No, Billie, this one’s real this time.”

  Two weeks back she pretended she was in the early stages of labour to make Mac give her a foot massage, and I wasn’t being another one to fall for it. “Just because you moan and groan at me doesn’t mean I’ll automatically agree to be your—” Before I finish my sentence, there’s a popping sound and my feet get soaked.

  Casey looks up at me with wide eyes. “My water just broke.”

  I fly out of my seat. “Shit, shit, shit! I’m so sorry, I thought you were joking with me.” I manoeuvre her out from under the table, being careful not to bump her growing belly, and hold her tightly so she doesn’t slip. I grab her coat and start winding our way through the crowd of people queuing up. “Excuse me, babies on the way.”

  We make it to the front of the shop and I turn to see Casey as white as a sheet. She shakes her head at me. “This can’t be happening, I’m only thirty-six weeks, they’re not supposed to be coming yet. I’m not ready.”

  I stroke her shoulders. “Everything’s going to be okay, your doctor told you this could be expected, just breathe. That’s it, in, one two three, out, one two three.” I am so out of my element here! “Okay, if we go and get you into my car, then I’ll call Jude.” She shakes her head. “No to my car?”

  “No, no, Jude is— Ah!” Don’t panic, Billie, you’ve got this! “Jude is two hours away at a conference.”

  “Well we better ring him now so he can be here when his babies enter the world.”

  “You need to call my mom,” she says as I help her into my car. Fuck.

  Before I climb in after her, I ring Jude and leave a bunch of messages when it goes to voicemail, trying to keep my face happy as I panic-smile through the window at Casey. I call Mac and he says he’ll meet us at the hospital and call his mum on the way which takes the job away from me. I sigh in relief and slide into the car, reversing out of my spot and heading in the direction of the hospital.

  “My maternity bag has all my notes in it, you need to tell someone to go get them, they’re by the front door of my house.” She decides to tell me this when we’re at a busy intersection, so I hand her my mobile.

  “You’re going to have to call Mac or your mum, I can’t pull over now. Can you do that?”

  She sucks in a deep breath and nods, taking it from me and pressing call. “Yes, I’m fine, it’s me. Billie is taking good care of me. Yes, mhmm, listen, I need you to go over to my house and pick up the two purple bags that are by my front door. I don’t care, Mac, break in if you have to, just get the damn bags.” She hangs up and sucks in another breath. “He’s an idiot, just saying.”

  I laugh and turn into the hospital just as Casey moans again. “This better be worth it, this fucking hurts.”

  “It will, you’ll have them in your arms before you know it,” I try to reassure her.

  I run around to help her out of the car and I’m surprised at how calm I am as I talk to the nurse at the desk who immediately gets her a wheelchair and sends us on our way to the labour ward.

  We’re seen to pretty much straight away and I try to keep my eyes elsewhere as she gets checked. “You’re already five centimeters along, how long did you say you’ve been having contractions?”

  “Only about an hour,” I say, confused.

  Casey sighs. “Actually, about five hours. I thought it was just wind or something until the pain started to get worse. You really need to give me something for that by the way.”

  The doctor laughs. “I’ll get you a little something for the pain, but it seems like you’re progressing really well so it shouldn’t be too long.” She looks between us both with a beaming smile. “Your babies will be here in no time.”

  Casey and I look at each other and burst out laughing.

  I shake my head. “Oh, you thought… no we’re err, we’re not together.”

  She looks mortified. “Oh, I’m sorry, I just assumed since you’re here and it’s a multiple pregnancy that… never mind, let’s forget about that and have some babies. I’ll be back with something for the pain.”

  The door swings open after she leaves
and in walks Katherine: Casey and Mac’s mum. She looks between us both before rushing over to Casey’s side like an actual concerned mum. “Oh, honey, you’re doing so well.” She looks around the room, avoiding eye contact with me. “I really must go see them about upgrading you though, this room just won’t do. I know they have better—”

  “Mom, I’m about to pop out two babies from a very sensitive area, I’m in a lot of pain, and I’m scared. Just stop, I’m fine right where I am. Could you go fill in my information at the front desk please? We haven’t had a chance to do it yet.”

  She nods once and finally looks over at me and clears her throat. “Billie. Thank you for getting Casey-Leigh here safely.”

  I give her a small smile. “Anytime.”

  “No, not anytime, this is not happening again!” Casey squeals and grips onto my hand.

  I stroke back the hair from her face. “That’s it, in and out, don’t hold your breath.”

  She lets out a long breath and settles back into the hospital bed. I turn to look at Katherine and she’s staring at our hands that are still interlocked with tears in her eyes. “I… I’ll just go sort out those papers.”

  As soon as she leaves, I turn to Casey. “I told you she hated me.”

  Her chuckle sounds throughout the room. “She doesn’t hate you, she looks more remorseful than anything else.”

  The door swings open again and Mac walks in holding five different bags. “I had no idea what was what, so I brought every bag I could see.”

  We both chuckle and he looks up and smiles wide, dropping the bags onto the floor and walking over to kiss us both on the forehead. “This is it, you’re going to be a mom before you know it.”

  She gives him a tight smile. “Mom’s outside.”

  “I saw.”

  “And you, both of you, need to go and talk to her,” she says, shifting into a more comfortable position.

  He sighs and scrubs his hand over the back of his neck. “Now isn’t the time, Case.”

  She narrows her eyes at him. “I’m about to bring two babies into this world, I’m not having them enter it with tension in the air between my family. You get your asses out there and get to talking, I know she’s not the easiest person in the world, but for my sake would you just please put this stupid feud to rest.”

  Another contraction hits her and she squeezes my hand again and looks in my eyes. “Where’s Jude?”

  “I left a few messages for him but I can go and try to get ahold of him now?”

  She shakes her head. “He’ll be here, I know he will. Now go, both of you.”

  “We can’t leave you alone,” I say, just as a lady walks back in with a needle of some sort.

  Case pushes my shoulder gently. “Now I’m not on my own, go.”

  Mac sighs and pulls me into his side. “Fine, but it has to work both ways, Case.”

  She nods and motions for us to leave.

  Inside I’m mentally preparing myself for a showdown as we approach her mid conversation with someone on the phone. She sees us coming and says her goodbyes, pocketing her mobile and smiling stiffly at us. “That was your father on the phone, he’s on his way with a flustered Jude. Let’s just hope she holds on until he gets here, they’re about two hours out still.”

  Mac nods. “Can we talk?”

  She looks between us both and gestures to a waiting area that seems quiet enough. She sits down and folds her hands in her lap, waiting for Mac to say something first.

  He doesn’t so I clear my throat. “I guess I will start by saying that I apologise for any part I had in this. I don’t apologise for speaking my mind, that I’ll never do, but causing a rift between you two was far from what I ever wanted.”

  “B, none of this is your fault,” Mac says, entwining his fingers in mine.

  “He’s right, we didn’t have the best relationship to start with and I may have gone a step too far.” I look at Mac and he looks just as confused as I feel at her confession. “I’ve been too stubborn to come and apologize to you both, but in light of the situation, I’d like to swallow what little pride I have left and say that I’m sorry for the way things have worked out.” She looks only at me. “Billie, how I acted was inexcusable. Casey-Leigh has kept me up to date on you both, and even though I’ve not seemed interested, I really have been. You’ve been nothing but a blessing for my son. Macswell…” She starts to tear up and I think I’ve entered into the twilight zone. This woman is not the same one I met all those months ago. “Your life is your own and you’ve proved time and time again that you know your own heart. I may not agree with every single choice, but Billie was right when she told me that all that should matter is your happiness. I was too blinded by my own goals for you that I couldn’t see past that and see the life you were building for yourself.”

  Mac inches forward and grasps her hand gently, much to her surprise, but not mine, I know my man has a huge heart. “I can’t say that things will be perfect between us from here on out, but thank you for apologizing. I guess I should—”

  “No, don’t apologize for living your life the way that you wanted to. Now…” She clears her throat. “This conversation will be continued, but your sister is about to have my grandbabies so we must be getting back.”

  And just like that, she stands up, straightens her pencil skirt and walks off toward Casey’s labour suite like nothing ever happened.

  “They’re so beautiful, Casey,” I say, staring down at the little bundle of joy in my arms.

  “Hey, I helped too,” Jude interjects and we all laugh apart from Mac who grimaces at the thought of his sister having sex. He shakes his head and looks at me.

  “Suits you,” he says, beaming over at me with a look in his eyes I’ve never seen before.

  I look at him encasing the tiny little human in his arms like he’s afraid to move in case something happens and I chuckle quietly. “You’re not going to hurt her, babe.”

  He hands her back to her dad. “Don’t want to risk it, they’re tiny.”

  Jude laughs as he cradles his little girl in his arms, making it look so natural. He got here just in time, one was just about to be born when he rushed into the room and took over as if he was here the whole time and knew what to do. As soon as he walked in, Casey seemed to relax and they were born within six minutes of each other.

  I walk back over to Casey and she holds out her arms to me. “Tiny for you. Try pushing not one, but two out of you, then say that to me again.” Everyone laughs and we stare in wonder at the twins.

  “Have you decided on names for them yet?” I ask them both. They gaze over at each other and I smile at the love in their eyes.

  “We have. Say hello to Piper and Phoenix,” she says.

  Mac coos over the little boy in Casey’s arms. “I’m your cool uncle. I’m going to show you how to get all of the ladies.” Casey swats at his arm and he moves over to Piper in Jude’s arms. “And you, you’re going to be locked away from all of the boys until you’re thirty.”

  “At least,” Jude retorts and we all laugh just as his mum and dad walk into the room, holding pink and blue balloons.

  We take this as our cue to leave and we say our goodbyes, promising we’ll come back tomorrow to see the little family.

  I know she can sense that something is up. Ever since I watched her hold my nephew in her arms, I haven’t been able to be the same around her. My sister’s wedding is in a week’s time and I really need to do this before it’s too late.

  “Mac, darling! To what do I owe this pleasure?” Billie’s mom’s sing-song voice rings out over the iPad.

  “Hi, Juliana. I don’t have long, Billie is in the shower, but I have something to ask you. Is Ed there?”

  “What about this one?” I ask, twirling around for Mac who is sitting on the floor of the changing rooms, looking far from impressed.

  He pushes up off the floor and saunters over to me, grabbing me by my hips and kissing my shoulder in front of the mirror, shocking me
. He’s hardly touched me for the past week.

  “You look beautiful, just like you did wearing the other four dresses. Choose one, B, it’s not hard.”

  I relax into his chest. “But it is, it’s your sister’s wedding and I’m the maid of honour. I’m not wearing that monstrosity that your mum picked out for me, and Casey is too busy today to help me choose, so help.”

  He chuckles. “You’d look good wearing a paper bag, and Case is already married, this is just a sham to show off in front of their friends. As long as it’s red then it doesn’t matter.”

  I roll my eyes. “It’s not red, it’s maroon, and I need to find a dress. The wedding is tomorrow. Casey called last week and said that your mum has invited another fifty people. The guest list is nearing six-hundred now, I can’t turn up in just anything.”

  He kisses up my neck. “I’ll be right back, stay where you are.”

  “Mac—” Grr. He’s just walked off and left me standing in an unsatisfactory dress. This is the fifth I’ve tried on, and none look right! Panic mode!

  I tug off the dress and hang it back up as Mac walks in holding a maroon gown in front of him that I bypassed earlier. “Now I know you said it was ugly earlier, but just try it on. I think it’ll really suit you.”

  “Fine,” I huff, taking it off him and stepping into it. He zips me up at the side and I stare at myself in the full-length mirror. It hangs off the shoulder and is tight until my waist where it flows down to the floor. Simple, but I love it.

  He sees my smile and walks out throwing, “Told you so,” over his shoulder.

  “Why does this all suddenly seem so real?” Casey strains out as I zip up her dress.

  “Err, maybe because there’s almost six-hundred people out there waiting to watch you walk down the aisle?”

  “Sarcasm isn’t gonna cut it now, Billie. I can’t believe she invited so many people, but I guess I couldn’t expect anything less,” a frayed bride-to-be replies back.

  I nod my head at her in the mirror. “She sure does know how to throw one hell of a party though, you can’t deny that today will be beautiful.”